December 19, 2011

DZINE is pleased to work with San Francisco art gallery, Cain Schulte Contemporary Art, to showcase the talented artist, Dainel Diaz-Tai. His large scale artworks will be on display at DZINE for several months.

"My artwork is inspired by a continuous dialogue between subconscious writing and spontaneous movement manifested through non-representational images.

My multicultural background as a male Asian-Latino has had a significant influence in my creative development. Although I grew up moving around between Venezuela, Shanghai, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and the U.S, I identify with Latino customs and traditions. However my multicultural background can be easily perceived in the expressions of my artwork.

At the moment of creating an art piece, my thoughts and feelings are depicted through my own movement. The writing in my art does not translate into English, Spanish or Mandarin. Instead, there is an abstract interpretation of these three languages, allowing the art to express itself through a medium that has no specific language. My primary intention is for the viewer to relate to the movement of my writing. I accomplish this by creating my own asemic script, which allows the viewer to interpret the writing by reading its fluidity.

The moment I begin an art piece, I do not have specific images in my mind, rather my subconscious creates a momentum and a repetition of dialogue. While doing a mixture of writing and washing, I create layers upon a medium. My limited color palette allows me to remain connected with my concept. I prefer bold tones such as black and white, which creates a visual medium through my emotions providing a clear understanding of myself."

December 17, 2011

We eat with all five of our senses. This makes the design and lighting in a restaurant especially important, a concept we will explore in a new, regular column entitled Light & Food. Piccino, a lovely restaurant in San Francisco, has recently moved to a new, larger location. I spoke with Piccino owner and architect Loring Sagan about the convergence of food, design and lighting.

COULD YOU START WITH A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE RESTAURANT AND HOW YOU CAME TO THIS NEW SPACE?
My wife, Margherita is from Lucca, Italy, and had opened Piccino 6 years ago in a very small (600 sq. ft.) location at the other end of the sidewalk. The neighborhood was changing and lacked any great food, coffee, wine, etc. so, the small place was an instant success. With lease going up for renewal, and a very challenging landlord, Margherita and her partner Sher Rogat were receptive to a change. And I had time to take on a smaller project as there was not a lot of design and development work 2 years ago.

One of their regular customers was a wonderful Italian woman whose family was from Lucca, and she and her cousin owned a beautiful old yellow building at the other end of the sidewalk - and there the story begins.. (and by the way, Margherita's brother is her new landlord's family doctor in Lucca!)

WHAT WERE YOUR GOALS IN THE DESIGN OF THE RESTAURANT?
To keep the personal warm comfortable neighborhood feeling from the former location, be respectful of what the building is, while at the same time creating a light, open, modern feeling.

HOW DID YOU ENSURE THAT THE BRAND OF PICCINO STAY INTACT WITHIN A NEW, UPDATED SPACE?
Using warm natural materials, such as recycled cypress for the tables and countertops, and black oak for the floors and soffits. There was no pretense in the old cafe, and the same goes for the new one. It is what it is, but with thought.

HOW DO YOU CARRY THROUGH THIS MESSAGE FROM FOOD TO DESIGN, TO FURNITURE AND LIGHTING?
The food is elemental and consistent with our design aesthetic - Margherita and Sher, and our chef Rachel Silcocks make food which is clean, clear, and do as little as possible to fresh ingredients. The vegetable, fish, and meats are all vibrant. My partner at my architectural firm, Sagan Piechota, Daniel Piechota and I took the same approach with the materials and space - do as little as possible and let the space shine.

HOW DOES THIS DESIGN RELATE TO THE MENU?
The menu is not huge and it changes weekly depending on what the farmers bring us. It is intentionally kept uncluttered with a balance of a few special items in each category. We also kept it simple in design, but strived to do simple well. Knowing where to stop and draw the line is an art: Whether in architecture, interior design, or food.

WHAT ROLE DOES LIGHTING PLAY IN ALL THIS?
Because a restaurant is active at night, lighting is an integral aspect of the experience, both in terms of being able to see, and feel the environment! The space itself is a three dimensional palette to be appreciated. Being somewhat asymmetric, the FLOS Glo-Balls do this beautifully. My partner Daniel chose them.

WHAT INFORMED YOUR CHOICE TO USE FLOS' GLO-BALLS IN THE END?
They are simple and beautiful!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEAT IN THE RESTAURANT?
I enjoy the far corners looking back at the entry, as well as the counters and communal tables. All of them have their contribution to the experience.

THE FOOD ON THE WEBSITE LOOKS DELICIOUS, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ITEM ON THE MENU?
Salads are extraordinary! Pastas too!

December 12, 2011

For the launch of FLOS San Francisco, DZINE asked Nicole Hollis to design the first window display featuring the newly released Piani lamp by Erwan and Ronan Bourellec, available exclusively at DZINE.

The talented designer and her team at Nicole Hollis Design created a terrific installation. Watch her interview below where she describes the concept of her window display for "Piani" the latest light by the Bourellec brothers for FLOS.

December 9, 2011

We have a crack on our wall here at DZINE, a very big one, called Wall Rupture designed by Thierry Dreyfus.

Wall Rupture appears as a fault within a wall’s surface, releasing a beam of jagged, radiant light produced by concealed LED lights. Evocative of a volcanic eruption or earthquake, Dreyfus has drawn on the world of contemporary art to create a striking sculptural light installation. Wall Rupture has two finishes: gold and silver, and, like all the Soft Architecture range, it uses LED powered lighting units.

This striking light installation adds a bold and unexpected artistic flourish to any interior space.

Wall Rupture has just been awarded best Lighting Product at the FX International Interior Design Awards. The Lighting Product Award celebrates interior luminaries, lamps and exterior lighting products for use in the workplace, retail, leisure, exhibition, public or commercial settings.

December 8, 2011

On November 30th, 2011 Piero Gandini, owner of Flos, together with Ron Gilad, designer of the "Piercing" fixture, were in San Francisco for the unveiling of the first installation of Soft Architecture in the US.

FLOS is showcased at DZINE in a dedicated space and throughout the floor, as well as exhibited in the central window where a FLOS display will be curated by a local Bay Area designer on a quarterly rotation. The inagural window is designed by San Francisco based Nicole Hollis Design.

Classic FLOS lights such as Arco, Taraxacum, and Toio by Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni, as well as new favorites Ktribe by Philippe Starck, Glo-Ball by Jasper Morrison, and Skygarden and Zeppelin suspension lights by Marcel Wanders, are just some of the products featured in the showroom.

Along with a wide range of residential lighting, DZINE will showcase several unique and innovative lights appropriate for contract and hospitality settings. FLOS' Soft Architecture line features lighting that seamlessly fuses with the surrounding architecture. Created using an innovative composite material which is both light weight and high strength, Soft Architecture delivers performance, durability and perfect integration with normal plasterboard false ceilings. It also complies with the latest international safety and eco-compatibility regulations. Wall Rupture by Thierry Dreyfus, Wall Piercing by Ron Gilad, and Spun by Sebastian Wrong are some of the stunning Soft Architecture products that are on display.

DZINE

Elegance. Simplicity. Functionality. DZINE represents a philosophy of design that is truly contemporary – one that encompasses not what is merely new, but what is essential and timeless.

A furniture showroom dedicated to the best of European design, DZINE occupies an airy 15,000 sq. ft. in the San Francisco design district. Whitewashed walls and bare concrete floors create a neutral backdrop. The effect is minimal, yet inviting. It is a space that places emphasis on the line, proportion and detail of the furniture itself, reflecting the respect for the integrity of each design and its creator.